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no spark in 1996 chevy astro van


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paulrice
User

Dec 2, 2009, 3:19 PM

Post #1 of 22 (14871 views)
no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

1996 chevy astro van wont start has fuel has no spark check spark at plug no spark changed coil module crank sensor coil wire computer check fuses cap rotor under cap replacedthe pickup rotor is turning no spark help was raining out van just died 6cyl 4.3 150000 miles


(This post was edited by carjunky on Dec 3, 2009, 10:40 AM)


steve01832
Veteran
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Dec 3, 2009, 6:24 PM

Post #2 of 22 (14837 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

Paul. If the fuel pressure is good and injector pulse is good and you have no spark, check for power at ignition coil. If you have battery voltage then replace the ignition module. It is located on the coil bracket.

Steve


paulrice
User

Dec 4, 2009, 1:22 PM

Post #3 of 22 (14824 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

steve i replaced the module once should i replace it again i have battery power at the coil 12volts i put a scanner on the van and it would not read the computer why my scanner reads 1996 to present also did not read it with the other computer in the van is there away to check the module i have a ohm tester


steve01832
Veteran
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Dec 4, 2009, 5:20 PM

Post #4 of 22 (14819 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

I'm sorry Paul. After I re-read your post I saw you had done the module already. My bad.
You say you have no communication with the scan tool? Can you give a little more info on what year the scan tool is updated to and what kind of scan tool you are using?

Steve


paulrice
User

Dec 5, 2009, 10:12 AM

Post #5 of 22 (14794 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

steve the scan tool is a innova 3150 for all 1996 vechicles abs canobd2


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 5, 2009, 11:02 AM

Post #6 of 22 (14790 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

Steve assumed you had injector pulse but I saw no where that you stated that. I know it is hard to test on that Vortec but we need to know if you have both power supply and ground pulse to the injectors.

Also need to know if the fuel pump is running during cranking, not just the 2 second pulse.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
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Dec 5, 2009, 9:55 PM

Post #7 of 22 (14777 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

Check your fuses, if the cigarette lighter fuse is bad and the DLC doesn't have any power a lot of the code readers won't communicate with the PCM.


paulrice
User

Dec 6, 2009, 12:48 PM

Post #8 of 22 (14762 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

i have power at the dlc plug and at the lighter my scanner says unable to establish a link with the vehicle i check the connections all good all fuses good check with test light question what does fuel pressure have to do when theres no spark in this case? have 12volts to coil with key on and cranking


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 6, 2009, 1:13 PM

Post #9 of 22 (14761 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

Is the check engine light coming on for bulb check when the key is turned on?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



steve01832
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Dec 6, 2009, 1:21 PM

Post #10 of 22 (14757 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

Paul, it is a standard procedure to hook all of the test equipment up all at once so when the engine is cranked we can see what is happening on all of the systems. If we only check for spark and nothing else we can easily misdiagnose the problem. For instance, a vehicle can have fuel pressure, no spark and no injector pulse. For this we would suspect a tach signal problem (crank sensor). If the mechanic didn't check for injector pulse and saw fuel pressure and no spark, he may replace a module or coil. That is why I put all of the diagnostic tools on a no-start vehicle all at once. It tells you where to go next in your diagnostic routine.

Steve


paulrice
User

Dec 6, 2009, 3:16 PM

Post #11 of 22 (14747 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

 yes the check engine light comes on with the key on the on position


paulrice
User

Dec 8, 2009, 10:06 AM

Post #12 of 22 (14730 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

hooked up another scanner wont read the computer but read the electrial and sayes to check crank sensor or the ring the crank sensor gets its signal from in the timing cover? how do you check a crank sensor with a volt meter? i checked and do not have signal at the coil i have 12volts but no signal i check that by test light clip on positive battery probe of test light on signal to coil before i buy another crank sensor how do you check it


steve01832
Veteran
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Dec 8, 2009, 5:57 PM

Post #13 of 22 (14719 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

Paul.At the crank sensor, there is a 3 wire connector. With key on engine off, take a digital volt meter and measure voltage between the pink wire and ground. It should be around 12 volts. If it tests good, we can continue. We really need to see if we have a tach signal. Noid lights won't work because of the design of the injector. A scan tool capable of reading the data stream is needed to see engine RPM during engine cranking. The reason for this is because if we have injector pulse and no spark, we chase down either a coil or ignition module. If we have no spark and no injector pulse, we chase down a tach signal problem. The crank sensor provides the VCM with the tach signal. Once the computer sees the signal, it knows we are starting the engine and it fires off the ignition module and fuel injectors. It is therefore necessary to know if the injectors are being pulsed before we go further.

Steve


(This post was edited by steve01832 on Dec 8, 2009, 6:02 PM)


steve01832
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Dec 8, 2009, 6:07 PM

Post #14 of 22 (14715 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

After re-reading your original post did you say you replaced the computer? If you did, I am assuming that the GM dealer reflashed it for you?

Steve


paulrice
User

Dec 10, 2009, 11:02 AM

Post #15 of 22 (14700 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

hi steve i have 12volts at the pink wire at the crank sensorwith a volt meter the other 2 wires must be signal wires? if so and they are grounds cant i check for signal by putting a test light clip on positive and the prob of the test light on the other wires to the crank sensor to check for signal the crank sensor will be hooked up to the vehicle and i wiil splice into the other 2 wires if no signal then i have a bad sensor or the ring in the timing cover that the sensor picks up signal from is bad? i have no way to check for injector pulse


steve01832
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Dec 10, 2009, 4:43 PM

Post #16 of 22 (14695 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

Paul, if you take the voltmeter and backprobe the pink and yellow wires, set the meter to the 20 volts dc scale, have an assistant crank the engine over. If the voltage fluctuates quickly from 12 to 0 volts, the sensor is good. If you get a consistent 0 volts the sensor is not putting out a signal. This is going to happen really fast so watch the meter closely. If your meter has a min/max feature you should be able to capture the readings. I don't like this method because multimeters take an average voltage rather than display live data. This is not an exact science. A lab scope would be the preferred method of doing this test.

Steve


paulrice
User

Dec 11, 2009, 2:41 PM

Post #17 of 22 (14679 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

steve i just wanted to let you know about 4 months ago i pulled off the timming cover to checkthe timming gears and chain they were ok but i did not replace the cover? my thought is i should of? maybe i am out of alinment?


steve01832
Veteran
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Dec 11, 2009, 6:09 PM

Post #18 of 22 (14673 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

If you are not leaking oil from the cover, you should be ok. If something was mis-aligned, it would have shown up a lot earlier than now. Paul, I did have an unanswered question. In your original post did you say that you replaced the Vehicle Control Module? If you did, was it brand new? and did the GM dealer flash it?

Steve


paulrice
User

Dec 12, 2009, 9:53 AM

Post #19 of 22 (14665 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

yes steve i bought it from parts store and they programed it


paulrice
User

Dec 14, 2009, 9:56 AM

Post #20 of 22 (14658 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

steve i back probed pink and yellow wires put meter on 20volts had 2.2volts then cranked motor got 0 volts so i think the sensor is not reading so bad sensor? or bad ring sensor?


paulrice
User

Dec 15, 2009, 2:48 PM

Post #21 of 22 (14643 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

steve is it possible to bench test the crank sensor? pulled sensor put 12 volts in the pink wire set meter to 20volts probed pink wire and yellow wire took a piece of metal to the front of the sensor nothing?


paulrice
User

Dec 21, 2009, 5:40 PM

Post #22 of 22 (14613 views)
Re: no spark in 1996 chevy astro van Sign In

at crank sensor have 500ohms sensor good at crankingUnsure






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